Two Die In Idi-Araba Dumpsite Explosions

TWO explosions suspected to have been caused by mishandling of unexploded grenades by scavengers at a dump site on Taiwo Street in the Idi-Araba area of Mushin Local Council of Lagos State had resulted in the death of at least two persons, with many sustaining varying degrees of injuries.
It was gathered that the first explosion occurred after a scavenger reportedly discovered military-grade grenades among scrap materials and attempted to dismantle one.
The grenade was said to have detonated instantly, killing the man on the spot and injuring three bystanders.
An online platform quoted an eyewitness as saying: “They probably picked up the object from somewhere else. The force of the blast was so intense it decapitated the man.”
Later in the evening, there was another explosion at the site, which caused significant damage, razing a nearby residential building and injuring more people.
“We saw at least eight people injured and they were rushed to a nearby hospital for treatment,” the source explained.
Various videos from the scene on social media showed two suspicious items resembling grenades, while Police operatives and firefighters were immediately deployed to the scene to calm the situation.
The incident was confirmed by the Lagos State Police Command, which said authorities received a distress call around 1:30p.m. regarding a suspected bomb explosion in the area and officers from the Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) Unit in Ikeja were immediately deployed to the scene.
Preliminary investigations indicated that the explosion was accidental and triggered during the scavenger’s attempt to tamper with the grenade.
The injured were quickly evacuated to a nearby hospital for medical treatment, while bodies of the deceased were deposited at a public morgue for autopsy.
The Command’s Public Relations Officer, Mr. Benjamin Hundeyin (CSP), said investigations were ongoing to determine how the military explosives got to the site, urging residents to remain vigilant and report any suspicious items or activities to the authorities.
He stated: “At 13:30 hours on April 3, 2025, a distress call was received by the EOD Unit based in Ikeja that there was a bomb explosion on Taiwo Street, Idi-Araba. Our team of EOD-CBRN operatives was swiftly mobilised to the scene.
“On arrival, the team ensured the area was safe and after a thorough inspection, it was discovered that the explosion was caused by military-grade grenades that had been tampered with by a scavenger who was trying to split one of them.
“Sadly, the scavenger lost his life at the scene, while three others were injured and taken to a nearby hospital.”
“The scene was secured, photographed and crucial evidence was collected for analysis.
“The deceased’s body has been moved to a public morgue for autopsy and an investigation has been initiated. Further developments will be communicated.”